Former President George W. Bush, right, poses for a photo with Mondell Bernadette Avril after she was sworn in as a U.S. citizen during a ceremony at the The George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Texas, on Wednesday. (LM Otero, The Associated Press)

There is only one reason for some House Republicans to resist any path to citizenship for illegal immigrants: it is bad for business. By keeping the underground status quo, there are employers, dependent on illegal labor, who can continue to hire and exploit cheap foreign labor to ensure current business profits. It is difficult to be required to pay minimum wage and/or benefits to a non-existent employee.

House Speaker John Boehner’s claim that Republicans are waiting for the borders to be secured to their satisfaction is just a ruse. The stall tactic continues to allow both people and dollars to flow while too many Republicans appear to be making a lot of noise on an issue they really do not want to change. This is not a party-line issue of blocking President Obama’s desired reform. Former President George W. Bush was blocked as well. This is about dollars, not sense.

Renee Farrar, Lakewood

This letter was published in the July 15 edition.

For information on how to send a letter to the editor, click here. Follow eLetters on Twitter to receive updates about new letters to the editor when they’re posted.

Sen. Michael Bennet makes a persuasive case for the need for immigration reform and for the recently passed Senate bill. He is right on that we need immigration reform and that we need a sensible solution for the millions of immigrants who are here illegally. It is unfortunate, however, that the bill focuses so strongly an incredible increase in border security. Those who come here illegally do so primarily for jobs. If they can’t get a job, why would they come?

What we really need is an e-Verify system now and, more importantly, an iron-clad commitment to enforcing it, something we completely failed to do in the bill that was passed in 1986.

It is also unfortunate that Congress fails to recognize the imperative to start reining in the expansion of our total population. Haven’t they looked at our air pollution, our water problems, our traffic congestion, etc.?

Michael Hayes, Westminster

This letter was published in the July 14 edition.

Sen. Michael Bennet did not mention some negative aspects of the Senate immigration bill. The federal government refused to fund border security measures passed after the 1986 amnesty, and cannot be trusted to secure the the border. The people the bill intends to serve are here illegally. Most are unskilled and only will be able to work for low wages, so they will join the 46 percent of Americans who do not pay federal income taxes.

Hopefully, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives will crush this bill and send a message to Sen. Bennet that border security must proceed any serious immigration reform.

Stephen H. Cohn, Northglenn

This letter was published in the July 14 edition.

Sen. Michael Bennett commends the Senate for its “comprehensive immigration bill.” He adds: “It creates a path to citizenship for millions of people who came to this country for a better life.” How did they come here? In total disregard for our immigration laws.

Our senator then adds: “[W]e are a nation that respects the rule of law and we are a nation of immigrants.” Yes, we are, of immigrants, not of immigrants who disrespect our laws.

Illegal immigrants are not immigrants, The Associated Press notwithstanding.

Charles King, Boulder

This letter was published in the July 14 edition.

Someone needs to reach our congressional delegation and tell them to read the Senate’s immigration amnesty bill before signing it. The bill will not help the United States, it will not help our economy, it will not control our borders, it will not reduce the unemployment rate, and it will not improve our nation’s sustainability.

If they read the bill, they will see that a “no” vote is appropriate.

Gray Buckley, Lakewood

This letter was published in the July 14 edition.

It is hard to believe that a senator would be so lacking in common sense to say that 11 million lawbreaking illegal immigrants are going to make the USA a better place. They will take jobs from citizens, displace students, up the crime rate and be a burden on our health care system. I am appalled at the Gang of Eight and their cronies for this nonsense.

Tom Minnich, Santee, Calif.

This letter was published in the July 14 edition.

Since when did citizenship become a door prize for illegal aliens who just happened not to get caught?

I am sympathetic to a pathway for citizenship for young people, who had no control when, or how, they entered the U.S. They grew up only knowing this country and we’ve certainly invested enough in their education that we deserve to reap some of the benefits in the future.

But a similar path should not be available to adults who knowingly flaunted our nation’s immigration laws and crossed the border illegally or intentionally overstayed temporary visas. There is a process in place that they chose to ignore, but that is no reason to fall over ourselves to change the law to accommodate their wants. And citizenship for this particular group is just that — a want, not a need. Green cards, or potentially permanent residency, could serve to legalize their status here, if they qualify. But if they truly want to become citizens, they are welcome to follow the existing immigration laws that are still on the books.

David Tanner, Littleton

This letter was published in the July 14 edition.

How many amnesties is too many amnesties? Haven’t we already had two, each for more than 10 million people? Let’s have a sincere bipartisan deal to stop illegal immigration before we have any more amnesties. Sen. Michael Bennet’s article is not only self-serving, but it is insidious and dishonest. If he were honest he would also address the impact on water supply, electricity (and coal burning), and other limited resources that that will be squeezed out of the rest of us.

Chuck Coltharp, Aurora

This letter was published in the July 14 edition.

Sen. Michael Bennet’s effort to have readers believe that the green card system for farm workers did not work is blatant propaganda. For years the system worked well, until food-processing corporations urged seasonal farm workers to ignore the law and take factory jobs for year-round employment.

And the senator’s emotional reference to his grandparents’ immigration to this country forgot to emphasize that they, like my grandparents, came to this country legally.

I agree with Bennet that some laws — like the anchor baby immigration law, which allows any mother to establish citizenship for their baby by giving birth in this country — need to be changed. Changes in the law should also establish that all illegal entry will result in a permanent denial of citizenship.

Bennet’s time would be better spent working with Mexico and other countries for return of their citizens who are here illegally.

Norman Tempel, Estes Park

This letter was published in the July 14 edition.

For information on how to send a letter to the editor, click here. Follow eLetters on Twitter to receive updates about new letters to the editor when they’re posted.

Guidelines: The Post welcomes letters up to 150 words on topics of general interest. Letters must include full name, home address, day and evening phone numbers, and may be edited for length, grammar and accuracy.

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